Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 1 Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by Leicester City Council. It offers care for up to 5 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 5 children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/07/2025 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 3

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Summary of findings

Children are provided with a warm, welcoming and well-decorated home. They are encouraged and supported to personalise their bedrooms, which promotes a sense of ownership and belonging. Children benefit from positive, stable relationships with staff at this home, who know them well. As a result, they are making good progress in their emotional and social development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children recently enjoyed a holiday to Wales, where they took part in a range of activities and had opportunities to form new friendships. When children have difficulty making friends, staff use creative and individualised approaches to help them engage with others and build meaningful connections.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have reduced restrictions within the home. Children can freely access the kitchen, which helps them to develop practical skills, make age-appropriate choices and take increasing responsibility for themselves. This approach promotes independence and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise and promote children’s cultural needs. On one occasion, staff advocated on behalf of a child to remain in the country, which was the child’s express wish. The home also advocated to ensure the child had stability and remained at the home until she completed her education. An interpreter was provided to help the child maintain contact with her family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work proactively to support children in maintaining relationships with the people who matter most to them. Where barriers have been identified, support is provided to both children and their families to overcome these. As a result, all children are now spending meaningful time with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Life-story work is being completed with children to help them understand their experiences, develop their identity and support their emotional wellbeing. Where emotional difficulties or concerns are identified, this information is shared with professionals to establish appropriate next steps.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from children is positive. One child described staff as "lifesavers" and said that, for the first time, they felt safe when settling down to sleep at night. This reflects the trusting and nurturing relationships that staff have developed with children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s emotional and mental health needs are well supported. Leaders and managers have developed links with a dedicated child and adolescent mental health services Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 4 worker, who meets regularly with the home. Staff can access specialist advice directly. This helps ensure that children receive timely support tailored to their individual needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A serious incident has occurred while a child was away from the home, which is currently being investigated by the police. Following this, staff reported feeling well supported by managers. The child and their family also reported that the incident was managed well and that the child received appropriate care. The relevant professionals confirmed that the response was effective and met the child’s needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The number of missing-from-home episodes has reduced. When children have been absent, they have returned home safely. This demonstrates that leaders, managers and staff are appropriately identifying and responding to risks. Children’s willingness to return home after periods of absence provides further evidence of their developing sense of safety and belonging.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safer recruitment practices are not consistently followed. Required recruitment checks have not been completed for all staff prior to their starting work, which is not in line with regulatory requirements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager reviews all documentation weekly to ensure quality and accuracy. Where shortfalls are identified, these are addressed and fed back to staff through reflective discussions, promoting learning and good practice. The quality and tone of the recording of information are now of a good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak positively about the quality of care provided. One independent reviewing officer commented that, despite visiting many children’s homes, this home genuinely feels like a "home from home" for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers need to ensure that independent visitors gain feedback from stakeholders and other relevant people during these visits. At present, this is not happening. As a result, the home is missing opportunities for independent oversight and feedback to inform practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers respond promptly to emerging risks. For example, following a local open-water fatality, key-worker sessions were held with children to raise awareness of water safety risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and describe leaders and managers as approachable and supportive. They report feeling able to seek advice, challenge practice and raise concerns when necessary. Staff describe a strong sense of belonging within the home and share a commitment to providing children with a warm, nurturing and family- focused environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only— employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d) 14 Sep 2026

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of the information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45). This includes seeking regular feedback from stakeholders to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Halford House, 91 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1HA

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Inspector

Sarah Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2795056 7 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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